Murdering brothers jailed for life

Two brothers convicted of murdering a man in his home have been given life sentences.

Joshua, 22 (left), and Matthew Anderson, 21, will serve a minimum of 23 years and 22 years in prison respectively

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Two brothers convicted of murdering a man in his home have been given life sentences.

Joshua, 22, and Matthew Anderson, 21, will serve a minimum of 23 years and 22 years in prison respectively.

Both men had been convicted last week of murdering Darren Lock on March 16 this year.

A third defendant, Dean Robinson, 32, of George Street, West Reading, was cleared of murdering Mr Lock, the attempted murder of Daniel Black and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Joshua, of no fixed abode, was also sentenced to 23 years jail for the attempted murder of Mr Black, nine months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one month for common assault, all to run concurrently.

Matthew, of Mallard Way, Aldermaston at the time of the attacks, was also sentenced to 12 years prison for wounding Mr Black with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and 12 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, all to run concurrently.

The jury heard during a five week trial how Mr Lock, 38, had died after being stabbed several times in the leg in his flat in Bramble Close, Newbury.

Mr Black, 34, received multiple stab wounds to the stomach and permanently lost the sight in one eye.

Matthew Anderson was also found guilt of assaulting Richard Phillips, in Stroud Green, Thatcham on the same night, which Joshua had admitted at an earlier hearing. He also admitted assaulting a fourth man.

"The murder of Mr Lock, defenceless in his own home, is all the more tragic because he was not himself a part of the long standing feud which lay behind what happened.

"The victim of attempted murder was lucky to escape with his life and has suffered life changing injuries."

Baljit Ubhey OBE, chief prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern crown prosecution service, said: "This was a tragic crime which led to the untimely death of Mr Lock and saw terrible injuries inflicted on others.

"The Andersons are clearly dangerous individuals who carry out premeditated and unprovoked attacks on people with and without weapons and pose a significant threat to the public."